Discuss the growth of religious sects in India. (UPSC CSE Mains 2018 - Sociology, Paper 2)
- A sect is a subgroup of a religious, political or philosophical belief system, usually an offshoot of a larger religious group. The word sect comes from the Latin Secta, meaning an organized religious body or organization, oriented towards ‘a course of action or way of life’.
- The chief feature of a religious sect is that it is a voluntary association. It is a small religious group that has branched off of a larger established religion. Sects have many beliefs and practices in common with the religion But they have broken off from, but are differentiated by a number of doctrinal differences. Many Sociologists use the word sect to refer to a religious group with a high degree of tension with the surrounding society, but whose beliefs are (within the context of that society) largely traditional.
- A sect seeks to impose a rigid pattern of ideal conduct on its members but seeks toleration rather than change from the larger society. Sects are concerned with purity of doctrine and with the depth of genuineness of religions feeling.
- The development of a number of sects and denominations have been viewed as an example of secularization. There are some scholars who view this as a decrease in importance of one faith and one church. However, other scholars hold the opinion that such multiplicity of sects actually denotes increasing religiosity. This phenomenon is visible in Indian society as well. For example- Radha Soami, Nirankaris etc.
Caste and sect:
- Sects are likely to arise within the groups that are marginalised in society, as they promise them a “sense of honour” which is not provided in the existing religious framework.
- In Hinduism, several sects emerged as a response to the dominance of Brahmanical social practices like caste restrictions. E.g., Vaishnavite Alwars, Shivaite Nayanar, Lingayats etc.
- Sects also emerge within the upper caste groups who don’t lack material wealth, but feel spiritual deprivation. E.g., Hare Krishna movement.
Religion and sect:
- Those who want change in their practical life without abandoning their religion become supporters of new interpretation of religion that suits their way of life, which causes emergence of new sects. E.g., Mahayana vs Theravada; Digambara vs Svetambara.
- Some sects emerge out of the need to reform the religion from social evils where as other emerge to revive original doctrines. E.g., Nirankaris vs Namdaris; Wahabism vs Sufism.
Region and Sect:
- Most of the sects are region-specific as the local political, demographic and socio-economic conditions predominantly influence their growth and shape them. For example,
- Patronisation of Cholas helped growth of Alwars and Nayanars in South India.
- Navayana Buddhism became popular in Maharashtra after Ambedkar embraced it.
- Migration of brahmins into valley of Manipur and cross-fertilisation of Meiteis and Hinduism gave rise to the birth of Vaishnavism in Manipur.
Thus, sect not only enables marginalised sections to find a place in the religion, it also makes the religion relevant to the changing socio-economic conditions of the society.
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